the moon and the flag

It was our last day in Washington and we still had a bit to do. The museums don't open until 10am but the Bureau of Printing and Engraving was open @ 9 so that was first stop. Here they print american money and we got to watch them make it from start to finish. Some of the interesting parts were The security band that got woven in, the 72 hours that they had to wait to let it dry and the vibration table. They used this to make sure none of the papers had stuck together.

The next stop was at the Smithsonian castle. here we had our photo taken with a Christmas tree decorated in blue. Then it was time to split up – Deanna, Emma and Mum all went to the native American museum (PS Mum will tell about later) while Dad and I went to the air and space museum. There we saw the Apollo 11 and for those of you who don't know it was the first to land on the moon!!! We also saw the first plane made by the Wright brothers - yep, the actual one!!!

Mum now... Because we hadnt seen much of the American Indians story Deanna, Emma and I decided to check out the new museum dedicated to the indiginous race. It was fascinating to see how they live and what their beliefs are. They live in harmony with the earth and sky (everything has a spirit which entwines with your own) and nothing is ever wasted. If they kill a bufallo the whole beast is used including the bones, hide and meat. It is a great celebration for the whole tribe. The cermonial clothing was so flamboyant and depicted the status of the warrior in the tribe.


After lunch the others joined us back to the air and space because Dad & I hadn't finished. There was an actual lunar lander to look at (they made 2 for earlier unmanned missions but only ended up using one... so here's the other one), as well as duplicates of the hubble space telescope and a space station which you could walk though. Dad really liked the WWII aircraft & also artifacts from the moon missions - like Gus Grissoms actual space suit from the 1st moon landing, and some moon rocks... and stuff like that. Dad and I had fun playing 'knock each others hats off' as we went around.

Next stop was the National Archives where we saw a giant globe... and New Zealand was at the back!!! Perhaps we're quite little! We also saw the first written Declaration of independence. It was long and faded. [ed... long & faded?! that's cos it's old Amy! check out the panorama pic below, that's the rotunda where u can view various original documents including the constitution & various amendments, bill of rights, articles of confederation etc. in this editors opinion, it's very cool to see all the originals of these historic documents and try to pick out the signatures of Washington, Franklin and co]




The last museum was the national museum of American history. Here we saw the original Kermit the frog. And this is for you Olivia we saw Dorothy's ruby shoes! There was even two of the most expensive violins in the world there! [ed... in fact 2 of only 11 ornamental Stradivarius fiddles ever made]. Dad thought Muhhamid Ali's boxing gloves from the George Foreman fight were pretty cool as well.

But the biggest thing they had was probably the first American flag - the original star spangled banner. You would probably think it would be small like any other flag – but this one was different, it was huge!! it had parts of it cut out because people didn't bother preserving things back then. [ed again, sorry... when the British were attacking Baltimore Harbour back in the early 1800's... with cannons for 25 hours... the defending locals were inspired at first light by the sight of this huge flag still fluttering. The song penned to commerorate the occasion was adopted as the national anthem. Again, rather cool to see the actual flag that inspired the anthem (despite a small sign advising no photography). I've included the lyrics below for anyone interested.]

So that was Washington. We were all extremely leg weary during that last walk back to our RV - a few miles walked this week I reckon! Snow is forecast for tonight so Dad says we better 'get out of Dodge' otherwise we mightn't be able to!

love from Amy

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?